Dennis Botticello, 67, and Glen Locke, 65, are charged with first-degree manslaughter and reckless endangerment charges.
Botticello owns a construction company Manchester-based Botticello Inc., and Locke, an equipment operator, was arrested last year for a deadly trench collapse resulting in the death of 56-year-old worker Dennis Slater. Both men were detained on $50,000 bail with pending court hearings on Monday.
Fox News reports the trench collapse as no safety devices were used on July 22. The trench had collapsed two previous times on the same day as it was used to dig and install piping for housing development in Vernon.
See: Florida: Man Sentenced to 6 years in Federal Prison After COVID Relief Fraud Scheme
Safety officials said the company had “trench boxes” used to prevent collapses; however, the company did not use them on July 22. Investigators also noted that the only ladders in the trench were those from the fire department. Locke admitted that the company are supposed to have a ladder every 25 feet.
David Botticello (left) and Glen Locke (right) are charged with manslaughter and reckless endangerment after a deadly trench collapse on their co-worker. (Photo: Vernon Connecticut Police Department via AP)
According to NBC Connecticut, Locke was working as a backhoe operator, and Slater was working in a trench they dug as they laid pipe when it collapsed. Slater attempted to climb over a pipe to get out but could not, then a 25-foot section of wall collapsed on him. According to arrest warrant applications, Locke said he was not able to use the backhoe to stop the collapse as a pipe was chained to the bucket.
After the incident, an employee immediately called 911 while Botticello and Locke jumped into the trench and used their hands and shovel to dig Slater out. Once they got Slater out, the group started CPR until the fire department arrived; however, he later died at the hospital.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommended $375,000 penalties for safety violations concerning the incident. The agency said the company did not follow the federal safety standards for trenches deeper than 5 feet. OSHA also cited Botticello Inc. had four serious trenching violations in 2015.
Read More: Man Out on Parole Stab and Choke His 11-Month-Old Baby in Connecticut, Cuts Off His Ankle Monitor
